The How You Respond To Attention Test

The Contented

32% insecure, 32% cynical, 5% machiavellian, 100% pragmatic

The Contented type has a positive self-image. Because they lack the powerful motivational influence of insecurity, they are less likely to want to manipulate others or be manipulated using methods like ego stroking. A truly Contented type is the sort who would even correct a misunderstanding that worked in their own favour, as when an audience misinterprets what they say as supporting something that the audience wanted them to say.

They aren't very liberal in handing out compliments, giving credit only where it is due, the value of compliments from a Contented type thereby having a higher premium for Bridget types, who can sometimes fixate on them because of this.

Since Contented types have a positive self-image, they won't devalue others who express a strong liking for them, so showering affection over them will not necessarily put them off. Likewise, The Contented type will not be put off by Seducers or Cynics who withhold praise since they don't particularly crave it. Contented types are unlikely to get along with Cult Leaders though because their inability to be manipulated will provoke hostility in the latter.

OTHER POSSIBLE SCORE CATEGORIES:

THE STUDENT

Students are unsure of themselves, but approach the problem pragmatically. They use compliments and criticisms as the basic feedback they need to grow as individuals, pushing themselves to try new things to see what works for them and what doesn't. This requires a lot of courage because it means exposing themselves to the judgements of others, but they forgive themselves for their mistakes, seeing no other means to grow.

So long as Students expose themselves to a wide range of views, they will continue to grow into very healthy and confident people. But if they limit their exposure to members of a specific social group, they will still grow more confident, but without as much justification because they will never be exposed to views that could challenge the errors that like-minds share.

THE BRIDGET JONES

Bridget Jones needn't be a woman, but let's refer to her as a 'she' in keeping with her namesake. Bridget is essentially insecure and receiving occasional compliments serves her need for approval, making her feel better about herself and her flabby bits. So long as these compliments come in small doses and from what she perceives to be high status sources, she will continue to seek them from these individuals.

Compliments make her feel special and she will confuse this feeling with affection for people who give them to her. The validation she receives from them is more important to her than whatever particular personal qualities the complimenter possesses. In this way, she has a tendency to objectify members of the opposite sex.

Bridget believes she is unlovable, so when someone expresses an unambiguous interest in her, instead of questioning her conviction that she is unlovable, she takes this to be evidence that the person who is expressing this interest lacks sincerity or is in some way desperate or stupid. Compliments therefore only carry value for her if delivered intermittently or ambiguously.

When one Bridget type takes a strong interest in another, compliments are unlikely to have a positive effect for either. The receiver will begin to attribute low status to the giver and lose interest. The giver will interpret this as rejection and reaffirm her belief that she is unlovable.

Bridgets can react aggressively when feeling vulnerable and become unnecessarily critical of those who they feel are rejecting them. They often claim to be nice people, who have been downtrodden by the opposite sex, and believe that members of the opposite sex are generally cruel or shallow.

THE SEDUCER

The Seducer knows how to play hard to get, which works extremely well with other insecure types like Bridget Jones, who will find herself seeking The Seducer's ambiguous encouragement. This strategy will bring The Seducer an enormous amount of attention, but almost exclusively from people who are merely seeking approval, rather than from those who are attracted to The Seducer's inherent charms.

The Seducer is really just a Bridget who has learnt how to play hard to get. This type believes that they have to trick people into having a relationship with them because they believe they are unlovable and that therefore no rational person could wish to be with them of their own accord. A Seducer in male form is the kind of man who likes the thrill of the chase but once successful, grows bored. As with the Bridget type, Seducers don't like themselves, so lose respect for anyone who does. Once they have won the affection of another, that person's affection is immediately devalued and they move on to the next conquest.

THE CULT LEADER

The Cult Leader uses positive and negative feedback to alter the behaviour of others, and generally in the service of their own interests rather than to help others. They will for instance, use flirtation and ego massaging to reward favourable attention, and may render certain topics of conversation off-limits by reacting in negative ways when they are raised. The hassle of raising these issues discourages the people around them from confronting them with what may be perfectly legitimate concerns. In short, the Cult Leader manipulates by rewarding sentiments they like to hear and punishing those they don't like to hear, often being clear in advance about what they do and don't want to see in others' behaviour to allow their companions to self-censor.

As a consequence, people who associate with The Cult Leader are unable to express themselves freely and spontaneously. The Cult Leader loses out in the end though too because the meaningfulness of a fished-for compliment can never match that of a spontaneous one.

THE CYNIC

The Cynic not only entertains the possibility that those who compliment them are insincere, but that this possibility is inherently much more plausible. This is because the Cynic applies much lower standards of evidence to negative thoughts such as "This person is just saying that to get into my pants" than to positive statements such as "This person is saying that because they like me". Compliments are sometimes said with an ulterior motive, but Cynics generally assume that to anticipate the worst.

They may even do this despite being quite adamant that they themselves always act sincerely. They will act sincerely, but avoid doing anything that could be construed as carried out with 'pure' motives, doubting that such things exist. The consequence is that they self-righteously 'admit' to having only hedonistic motives (wanting sex rather than love, etc.) believing this negative to be beyond criticism, and respect others who do the same. The Cynic will therefore neither give nor receive compliments readily.

THE SOCIOPATH

True sociopaths are people who treat others as mere tools. If you score in this category, it is because your answers suggest you are neither particularly insecure nor cynical and yet still find yourself manipulating people. Insecurity is often what motivates manipulative behaviour, while a cynical outlook helps to justify it to oneself. In the absence of high amounts of insecurity and cynicism, it will be hard for others to understand why you try to manipulate them. In a similar vein, people find it hard to relate to the idea of deriving pleasure from torturing animals.

Very few people score in this category, and those that do are most likely doing so because they are underestimating how insecure or cynical they actually are.

All possible test results

The Contented type has a positive self-image. Because they lack the powerful motivational influence of insecurity, they are less likely to want to manipulate others or be manipulated using methods ... Read more

Students are unsure of themselves, but approach the problem pragmatically. They use compliments and criticisms as the basic feedback they need to grow as individuals, pushing themselves to try new ... Read more

Bridget Jones needn't be a woman, but let's refer to her as a 'she' in keeping with her namesake. Bridget is essentially insecure and receiving occasional compliments serves her need for approval, ... Read more

The Seducer knows how to play hard to get, which works extremely well with other insecure types like Bridget Jones, who will find herself seeking The Seducer's ambiguous encouragement. This strateg... Read more

The Cult Leader uses positive and negative feedback to alter the behaviour of others, and generally in the service of their own interests rather than to help others. They will for instance, use fli... Read more

The Cynic not only entertains the possibility that those who compliment them are insincere, but that this possibility is inherently much more plausible. This is because the Cynic applies much lower... Read more

True sociopaths are people who treat others as mere tools. You scored in this category because your answers suggest you are neither particularly insecure nor cynical and yet still find yourself man... Read more